John Mackey (American football)

John Mackey (September 24, 1941 – July 6, 2011) was an American football tight end who played for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers. He was born in Roosevelt, New York and attended Syracuse University. He also served as the first president of the National Football League Players Association following the AFL-NFL merger, serving from 1970 to 1973. Mackey was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Football career
Mackey was drafted from Syracuse University by the Baltimore Colts in the 1963 NFL Draft. He went on to play a total of 10 NFL seasons as tight end, and became known for his size and speed. Mackey played his first nine seasons with the Colts before leaving the team in 1971. He played his final season with the San Diego Chargers, retiring at the end of the 1972 season. Although a knee injury forced him into early retirement, Mackey only missed one game in his whole career.
During his 10 seasons in the NFL, Mackey...